Avian flu is hitting California’s San Joaquin Valley hard — nearly 20 million chickens, ducks and turkeys have been killed in the region since 2022, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In prior bird flu outbreaks, there’ve been several documented cases of feline-to-feline spread, but ingestion seems to be the primary route of exposure for pets in the current outbreak, says Coleman. If an outdoor cat catches an infected bird or rodent, that can make them sick.

No new human cases of avian influenza have been reported, and poultry infections are low so far in March. But infections in cats are continuing, and new research is raising concerns about the virus

While the ongoing H5N1 outbreak has affected the United States, it is good to know what the avian flu is and how the virus can hit cats.

Is it safe to eat eggs and poultry during a bird flu outbreak? 🦠🍳 In this short but essential video, we break down what you need to know about bird flu (avian influenza) and how it affects poultry products.